George Stevens (December 18, 1904 – March 8, 1975) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer. During World War II, Stevens joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps and headed a film unit from 1943 to 1946 under General Eisenhower. His unit shot footage documenting D-Day — including the only Allied European Front color film of the war — the liberation of Paris and the meeting of American and Soviet forces at the Elbe River, as well as horrific scenes from the Duben labor camp and the Dachau concentration camp. Stevens also helped prepare the Duben and Dachau footage and other material for presentation during the Nuremberg Trials. In 2008, his footage was entered into the U.S. National Film Registry by the Librarian of Congress as an"essential visual recor" of World War II. The Special Coverage Unit (SPECOU) was placed under the control of the Supreme Headquarters' Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF). The SPECOU consists of 45 people: writers like Ivan Moffat, William Saroyan and Irwin Shaw; cameramen like Dick Hoar, Ken Marthey, William Mellor, Jack Muth; sound operators as Bill Hamilton, who comes from Columbia, assistant directors, as Holly Morse, who has worked with Hal Roach.
Stevens and Moffat walking toward camera and then to what is apparently RAF airfield being briefed by British or Canadian officer next to fighter plane. Stevens climbs into cockpit of fighter (Hawker Sea Fury), officer explaining it. Panning shot of bombed out hangars and other buildings, smoke in distance. Shot of four men at jeep, bombs to side, jeep drives off. Stevens and others in helmets with weapons filming troops advancing in trucks. VS of camouflage tanks coming toward camera and passing (according to handwritten notes in the LOC original cataloger's notes, this depicts the beginning of the mass attack on St. Lo). Stevens and Irwin Shaw opening cans of rations and talking, standing by jeep, eating from can, small pack of Camel brand cigarettes are also visible in shot. Shot from rear of jeep, over Stevens to truckload of GIs, jeep moves out. Camera jeep advancing on country road. Shot of dead horse and over turned wagon on roadside.
RAF airfield; US military advances